Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017

You need to pay tax when the vehicle is first registered, this covers the vehicle for 12 months.

You’ll then pay vehicle tax every 6 or 12 months at a different rate.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

First tax payment when you register the vehicle

You’ll pay a rate based on a vehicle’s CO2 emissions the first time it’s registered.

This also applies to some motorhomes.

You have to pay a higher rate for diesel cars that do not meet the Real Driving Emissions 2 (RDE2) standard for nitrogen oxide emissions. You can ask your car’s manufacturer if your car meets the RDE2 standard.

CO2 emissions Diesel cars (TC49) that meet the RDE2 standard, petrol cars (TC48), Alternative fuel and zero emission cars All other diesel cars (TC49)
0g/km £10 £10
1 to 50g/km £110 £130
51 to 75g/km £130 £270
76 to 90g/km £270 £350
91 to 100g/km £350 £390
101 to 110g/km £390 £440
111 to 130g/km £440 £540
131 to 150g/km £540 £1,360
151 to 170g/km £1,360 £2,190
171 to 190g/km £2,190 £3,300
191 to 225g/km £3,300 £4,680
226 to 255g/km £4,680 £5,490
Over 255g/km £5,490 £5,490

This payment covers your vehicle for 12 months.

Rates for second tax payment onwards

Fuel type Single 12 month payment Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit Single 6 month payment Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
Petrol or diesel, Electric & Alternative Fuel £195 £195 £204.75 £107.25 £102.38 

Alternative fuel vehicles include hybrids, bioethanol and liquid petroleum gas.

Vehicles with a list price of more than £40,000

You have to pay an extra £425 a year if you have a car or motorhome with a list price of more than £40,000.

You do not have to pay this if both of the following apply:

  • you have a zero emission vehicle
  • the vehicle was registered before 1 April 2025

The list price is the published price of the vehicle before it’s registered for the first time. It’s the price before any discounts are applied.

You only have to pay this rate for 5 years (from the second time the vehicle is taxed).

Check the list price with your dealer so you know how much vehicle tax you’ll have to pay.

Fuel type Single 12 month payment Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit Single 6 month payment Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
Petrol or diesel, Electric & Alternative Fuel  £620 £620 £651 £341 £325.50